Magnetic fishing tool



Nov. 3, 1953 H. w. BALLEW ETAL MAGNETIC FISHING TOOL Filed March 3l,19494 INVENTORS H. W BALLEW J. R. BALLEW V/l MN hun.,

ATTORNEY atented Nov'a 3, 195'@ MAGNETIC FISHING TOOL Harold'W. Ballew,Lubbock, Tex., and JuliusR. Ballen?, Hobbs, N. Mex.

r`Application Marchl, 1949,-1SerialNos84f616 (Cl. T66-"19) '6 'ClaimsThis invention relates -.to well machinery and more particularly to amagneti-c fishing tool for recovering metallic objects such as parts ofdrills or the like which may become ldetached from their associatedapparatus or otherwise be lost at the bottom of a well, such as `an oilwell -or other relatively deep bore in the ground.

Heretofore numerous attempts have .been made Ato provide magneticiishing tools but these have not enjoyed any great degree oi success,largely due to the fact that no eicient means has been .providedfforremoving foreignmaterialsuch Aas rock cuttings, mud or the .like in thelbottom of the well, or for moving the metallic objects toward thecenter of the well where it `might be conveniently engaged and picked upyby the fishing tool.

eration until successful removal was accomplished.

It is accordingly -an kobject of this yinvention to provide aself-contained magnetic .shing tool which may be attached to theconventional drill string in which there is provided a relativelypowerful electromagnet and lself-contained power' supply therefor whichis automatically turned on and on during .the operation of the tool andfurther in which means is provided for receiving andholding the metallicobject after engagement therewith by the electromagnet.

vIt isa further -object oi this invention to provide a magnetic fishingtool in which means provided to permit the circulation of mud or otherfluid whereby rthe rock cuttings `or Athe like present at the bottom ofthe well may beremoved in order to permit easy access to themetalflic objects which it is desired to recover, the tool also incorporating meanswhereby upon rotation thereof ,metallic objects present in the bottom ofthe well will be moved toward the center rfor convenient engagementbythe electromagnet.

.It is a .further object of the .invention to Ypro- Vide a magneticfishing tool of relatively simple and economical construction in whichall of rthe electrical parts are efficiently sealed against the entranceof moisture'and further a tool which is 4completely kauton'rat'ic inAoperation in that it is only necessary to lower the same into a welland supply vmud or other duid thereto after which the vtool Ywilloperate to retrieve metallic objects present in the bottom 'of the well.

Further objects and advantages for the .inven- 2 .tion will ybe`apparent from the following descrip- .tion taken in conjunction withthe accompanying fdrawings, wherein:

Fig. 1 `is a view in elevation showing the ymagnetio fishing tool of.this invention;

Fig. 2, va vsectional view drawn to an enlarged scale in order to moreclearly show .the internal .arrangement of parts;

.'Fig. 3, a `sectional view on the line -S of .Fig-2;

Fig. 4, a sectional view on the line d-s of Fig. `2; `and Fig. `5, .a-sectiinal -view on the .line 5-5 ci' Fig. 2.

With continued reference to the drawing, there `isshown in Figs. l and 2a magnetic 4iishing tool having a hollow body .I-Eircomprising a basketsup- .porting section 4l l, an intermediate section I2, Aa splinedsection i3 fand a junk `basket .section As shown in Fig. 2, thesesections are threadedly secured together .to form the Ahollow .body E@which receives the kremaining parts of .the tool.

Slidably .disposed in the .sections `Ei?, .and lll .is an .axiallyextending rod t5 provided at .the up per end thereof with tapered.threads .EE for re- .ceptionin the end of a conventional drill stringwhereby theflshing tool maybe conveniently secured thereto. Rod Ib isprovided with -a plurality of projections or splines le which slidablyengage grooves or splines il in the splined section 'I 3 'andthe junkbasket section has an inwardly extending shoulder i8 which engages theprojections :It to Vlimit `outward 'movement of the rod Theinter-engaging splines and 'grooves vIt and 'l also Vserve 'to preventrelative rotation between 'body is Iand rod le. Similarly theYintermediate `section 'i2 is -provided with 1an yinwardly extendingshoulder for 'engagement with the projection iii to `limit 'inwardmovement or" the rod t5. It will therefore be seen from .an inspectionof Fig. 2 that the rod iepermitted to slide within the body of the toola distance substantially equal to the length of the spline section I3.

The lower end of .rod i5 is ,provided with .a screw threaded section 2tfor the reception or" a battery container .2i which may be in .the formdi ahollow tubular member of a size sucient to receive a battery 22.This battery may be either of the wet or dry type or if rdesired may bereplaced by wires vleading 'upwardly to 'the surface of the well, theelectrical power being supplied from any kconvenient means.

The lower end of battery container 2i is 'provided with -a screwthreaded 4port-ion '23 vlfor rcceivingan-electromagnet -2'4 having vacoil v25 pc- 3 sitioned in a recess 2t and surrounding a central polepiece 2l. The function and operation of this electromagnet will behereinafter more fully described.

The basket supporting section il is provided adjacent the bottom thereofwith an inwardly extending flange 28, the upper end of this sectionbeing secured to the intermediate section by screw threads or the like,2Q. A basket 3c of generally cylindrical construction is rotatablymounted in the basket supporting section Il in engagement with theliange 23 and upward movement of the basket relative to the basketcarrying section is prevented by set screws or the like 3! projectinginwardly through the section l l to overlie the upper edge of the basket3).

The basket 3i) is provided adjacent the lower end thereof with aplurality or inwardly extending flexible nngers 32 which may be formedof rubber or other equivalent non-metallic material. These fingers aresecured in the inner wall of the basket 3G and normally occupy ahorizontal position as shown in Figs. 2 and 5 substantially closing thelower end of the basket These lingers 32 are urged toward horizontalclosing position by spring elements 33 secured in the inner wail of thebasket Sil, these spring elements being preferably formed of nonmagneticmaterial. The fingers 32 are so constructed that they may easily swingupwardly as viewed in Fig. 2 to permit the entry of 0bjects into thebasket and after passage between the lingers they will return tohorizontal position under the action ci springs 33 to retain objects inthe basket.

The basket carrying section il is also provided with an axiallyextending tooth 3d adjacent the circumference thereof, the function andoperation of which will be presently described.

The operation of the electromagnet 24 is automatically controlled by aswitch 35 mounted within the battery container 2i, there being anactuating member 35 secured to the switch 35 and extending through thewall of the battery container 2l. Actuating member 36 is sealed in aplug 311 of .rubber or other suitable resilient material sealed in thewall oi the container which permits movement thereof relative to thewall of the battery container 2! and the switch .'i but at the same timeprevents, entrance oi moisture into the battery compartment. The switchactuating member 3G is so proportioned as to engage a projection 38 onthe inner wall of intermediate section I 2, this projection being in thel'orm of a screw, rivet or the like and serving to operate the actuatingmember 3b upon reciprocating movement of the rod it and associatedbattery container 2l and electromagnet 2li.

In order to clear away rock cuttings and the like which may be presentin the bottom ci the well and covering metallic objects to be retrieved,the rod l is provided with a bore 39 terminating adjacent the splines orprojections IB' there being provided a plurality of radially disposeddownwardly extending passageways ill communicating with the bore Se andthe space below the splines IG and the inner wail ci the spline sectioni3. The intermediate section l. is provided with a plurality of axiallyextending passages ci in the wall thereof, these passages extending fromthe space in the splined section I3 through axially extending matingpassages 152 in the basket carrying section Il to the lower edge of thissection. Bore $39, passages 4G, lil and il? permit mud or other iiuid tobe pumped downwardly through the drill string and to be ejected withsome force from the lower edge of the basket carrying section i i. Thesejets serve to wash away accumulated rock cuttings and the 'ke and toexpose the metallic objects to be retrieved for convenient engagement bythe fishing tool. The circulatedL mud or other iiuid is discharged fromthe bottom or the weil around the outside of the body I il and upwardlythrough the basket 3B and the space between the electromagnet 24,battery container Zl and the inner wall of intermediate section l2. nShecirculated fluid is discharged from this space through upwardlyextending radially disposed passages i3 in the wall of intermediatesection l2 adjacent the upper end thereof.

As the circulated fluid passes upwardly in the well around the outsideof the shing tool relatively heavy particles of foreign material may becarried thereby and in order to retrieve these particles the junk basketsection lil is provided with a receptacle it having an open top 45 intowhich these heavier particles may pass to be retained therein untilwithdrawal of the tool to the surface.

In operation the fishing tool is lowered into a well or other openingfrom which it is desired to remove metallic objects until the lower edgeoi' the basket carrying section il contacts the bottom thereof. At thistime the tool is slowly rotated and mud or other 'fluid is pumpedthrough the passages as above described to clear away rock cuttings andthe like and expose the metallic objects in the bottom of the well. Therotation of the single tooth 34 will cause this tooth to engage suchmetallic objects and move the same toward the center of the well wherethey may be conveniently engaged by the tool.

As will be seen from an inspection of Fig. 2, upon contact of the loweredge of the tool with the bottom of the well downward movement of thebody lil will cease but the rod I5, battery container El andelectrcrnagnet 2A will continue to move downwardly until the splines H5contact the shoulder IS upon the upper end of intermediate section I2,at which time the lower surface of the electromagnet 24 will bepositioned immediately above the basket 3l). Also, during this downwardmovement of the rod and associated parts relative to the body It, switch35 will be closed by engagement of the actuating member with theprojection Bil to energize the electromagnet 24 through leads d6connected between the battery 22, switch and coil 25 of the magnet.

The magnet 24 is suiliciently powerful to lift any metallic objects fromthe bottom of the well into the basket llt, this operation causing theupward movement of inwardly extending ingers 32, the object being liftedwell above the extremities of these fingers when so raised. After theobject passes fingers 32, these lingers will be returned to theiroriginal horizontal position substantially closing the open end of thebasket. Rotation of the tool may then be stopped and the same raised,which action will first cause a relative upward movement between rod I5,battery container 2i and electromagnet 24, the switch actuating member3B thus engaging projection 38 to deenergize the electromagnet 2d, thusreleasing any metallic objects attached thereto, which objects will dropinto the basket 30 to be retained therein until reaching the surface.Likewise any objects which have fbeen deposited in the `:junk basketwill also be :retained until reaching the surface.

-It will be seen that by the above described invention there has beenprovided a :relatively simple magnet shing tool which only depends onAmagnetic force to lift the metallic-objects yfrom the bottom of thewell into a retaining basket, after which these objects are .retainedtherein without necessity for `maintaining the magnet energized untilthe surface is reached. This tool likewise provides means for removingthe rock cuttings lor the like and exposing the metallic objects forconvenient contact by the tool and since the device is entirelyself-'containedit is only necessary to attach V.the same to .aconventional drill string and after recovery of the desired objects fromthe bottom vof the well the tool may easily -be removed and a `drillinstalled 'in place thereof.

It lwill be obvious to those skilled in :the art that various changes-may be made in the invention without departing from the fspirit andscope Athereof and therefore the invention is not limited by that whichis shown 'in the ldra-wings and described in the Vspecification but onlyas indicated in the rappended claims.

What is claimed is:

l. A magnetic'fishing tool'for'recoveringmetallic objects from thebottom of a well or the like comprising a cylindrical hollow body, ashaft slidably and non-rotatably mounted in said body and extending fromthe upper end thereof, an electromagnet and a battery container securedto the lower end of said shaft `Within said body. a switch in saidbattery container having an actuating element extending through the wallthereof, electric connections between said magnet, said switch and a.battery in said container, a basket rotatably mounted within said bodyadjacent the lower end thereof, resilient non-metallic fingers extendingradially inwardly from the wall of said basket and substantially closingone end thereof, non-magnetic spring means engaging the upper surface ofsaid resilient fingers and serving to bias said fingers toward closingposition, inlet passages extending through said shaft and the side wallof said body to the lower edge thereof lwhereby fiuid may be passedtherethrough and ejected downwardly from said body to remove materialfrom the bottom of said well in which said objects may be buried, outletpassages in said body whereby said iiuid and material may pass upwardwithin said body around said magnet and battery container and outthrough said outlet passages, a single tapered tooth extending axiallyfrom the lower edge of said body whereby upon rotation of said toolobjects engaged by said tooth will be moved toward the axis thereof anda projection within said body in the path of movement of said actuatingelement `whereby upon downward movement of said shaft, battery containerand magnet relative to said body said actuating element will engage saidprojection to actuate said switch and energize said magnet thus liftingsaid objects through said fingers into said basket and whereby uponupward relative movement of said shaft, battery container and magnet,said actuating element will engage said projection to actuate saidswitch and deenergize said magnet thus releasing said objects to depositthe same in said basket to be retained therein by said fingers untilreaching the surface.

2. A magnetic fishing tool for recovering metal- 2li-c v.objects .from:the .bottom :of :a'well or the like comprising a cylindrical :hollowbody, a shaft 'slidably and 'non-rotatablymounted insaid body landextending from the upper .end thereof, an Aelectromagnet secured :toAthe lower end of said shaft .within said body, va .switch secured inxed relation to said magnet, electrical connections between saidmagnet,said switch .anda source of :currentVabasket mountedwithm saidbody-adjafcent ithe lower end thereof, resilient fingers extendingradially inwardly .from the wall of said lbasket and substantiallyclosing one :end thereof, 'spring means-engaging .said resilient fingersand serving 'to .bias said fingers toward closing :posi--tion,1inlet'passages .extending through said shaft Iand the sidewallYof said body to the .lower edge thereof whereby fluid maybe passed`therethrough .fand .rejected "downwardly from said .body `to :removematerial .from the bottom .of said well :in 'which :saidfobjects .may beburied, outlet vpassages `in 4said body whereby said fluid and .materialmay pass upwardly within :said body around said ymagnet and batterycontainer and out `through said outlet passages, `a single tapered toothextending axially from the lower edge of said `body :whereby upon.rotation of said tool objects .engaged by said tooth will .be movedVtoward .the axis 'thereof .and means within said body for actuating.said .switch upon downward .movement thereof relative to said body toenergize said magnet thus lifting said objects through said fingers intosaid basket and `whereby upon upward relative movement of said switchrelative to said body said switch will be actuated to deenergize saidmagnet thus releasing said objects to deposit-the same in said basket tobe retained therein by said fingers until reaching the surface.

3. A magnetic fishing tool for recovering metallic objects from thebottom of a well or the like comprising a cylindrical hollow body, ashaft slidably and non-rotatably mounted in said body and extending fromthe upper end thereof, an electromagnet secured to the lower end of saidshaft within said body, a switch secured in fixed relation to saidmagnet, electric connections between said magnet, said switch and asource of current, a basket mounted within said body adjacent the lowerend thereof, resilient fingers extending radially inwardly from the wallof said basket and substantially closing one end thereof, inlet passagesextending through said shaft and the side wall of said body to the loweredge thereof whereby fiuid may be passed therethrough and ejecteddownward from said body to remove material from the bottom of the wellin which said objects may be buried, outlet passages in said bodywhereby said fluid and material may pass upwardly within said bodyaround said magnet and out through said outlet passages, means withinsaid body for actuating said switch upon downward movement thereofrelative to said body to energize said magnet thus lifting said objectsthrough said fingers intosaid basket said means also Serving upon upwardmovement of said switch relative to said body to actuate the same todeenergize said magnet thus releasing said objects to deposit the samein said basket to be retained therein by said fingers until reaching thesurface.

4. A magnetic fishing tool for recovering metallic objects from thebottom of a well or the like comprising a cylindrical hollow body, ashaft slidably and non-rotatably mounted in said body and extending fromthe upper end thereof, an

electromagn'et secured to the lower end of said shaft within said body,a source of current for said magnet, a basket mounted within said bodyadjacent the lower end thereof, movable iingers extending radiallyinwardly from the wall of said basket and substantially closingr one endthereof, means operable by downward movement of said magnet relative tosaid body to connect said source of current to said magnet to en ergizethe same thus lifting said objects through said fingers into saidbasket, said means also being Operable by upward movement of said magnetrelative to said body to disconnect said source of current from saidmagnet to deenergize the same thus releasing said objects to deposit thesame in said basket to be retained by said Fingers until reaching thesurface.

5. A device as dei-ined in claim 2 in which said basket is mountedwithin said body by a section of said body threadedly attached to theremainder thereof tlius facilitating removal of said basket and thecontents thereof.

6. A magnetic fishing tool for recovering metallic objects from thebottom of a well or the like, comprising a hollow body, a shaftreciprocable within said body and extending from the upper end thereof,an electromagnet secured to the lower end of said shaft within saidbody, a source of current for said magnet, a basket mounted within saidbody adjacent the lower end thereofbelow said magnet, means to permitentry of objects into said basket and to prevent inadvertent removalthereof, means operable by downward movement of said magnet relative tosaid body to connect said source of current to said magnet to energizethe same and attract metallic objects in the well and upon upwardmovement relative to said body to withdraw said objects into said basketfor removal to the surface.

HAROLD W. BALLEW. J ULIUS R. BALLEW.

References Cited in the le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS NumberName Date 1,439,687 Brandon Dec. 26, 1922 1,589,678 Bornemann June 22,1926 2,092,316 Lane Sept. 7, 1937 2,159,249 Brantly May 23, 19392,318,885 Osmun May 11, 1943 2,379,757 Smith July 3, 1945 2,416,613Costin Feb. 25, 1947 2,431,361 Athy NOV. 25, 1947 2,493,992 Murphy et alJan. 10, 1950 2,539,435 Kirby Jan. 30, 1951 2,595,632 Bivings et al. May6, 1952

